Montenegro > Descending to Kotor

Montenegro - View of the impressive Bay of Kotor

After breakfast, I say goodbye to the owner. The German neighbors have already left. I walk back toward Njegusi. Yesterday, Vlado advised me to follow a section of the main road, so that I could pick up the hiking trail further along. I need to watch for a mark on a lamppost after the second restaurant on the map. After about three-quarters of an hour, I spot a restaurant and realize I am already in Krstac. I’ve missed the turnoff, which adds a bit of extra walking. It’s frustrating that the initial paths are so poorly marked. I decide to pay even closer attention to ensure I can find the path to Kotor. This descent is supposed to be spectacular.Just outside Krstac, I see a red-and-white mark on the rock. A steep drop marks the start of the path. This time I can’t miss it. The path is made up of many loose small rocks, so I have to be careful not to slip on the unstable surface. The descent starts at 1,000 meters, but I quickly come lower. I also get my first breathtaking view of the Bay of Kotor. What a remarkable sight. I continue descending into the valley. After an hour, I can see the old town of Kotor and the fort. The mountainside here is very steep. In the past, the military built a zig-zag path for their supply route. The path clings tightly to the mountainside. I follow it from left to right. The descent seems never-ending, and Kotor approaches only slowly. However, I notice that it is getting warmer and that the view is becoming increasingly beautiful.As I near the fort, I leave the zig-zag path and head to the old city wall near the fort. The fort sits about 300 meters above the town. Through a small opening in the wall, I enter the fort itself. I see numerous tourists climbing the stairs to reach the upper fort—they’ve already done quite a climb. I also climb about a hundred steps to reach the upper fort. The fort is heavily ruined, and really the view of the bay and Kotor is the main attraction. Only now do I notice how warm it is.

Montenegro - The touristic old centre of Kotor

It’s no wonder there are various vendors selling cold water here.I descend together with all the tourists along 1,300 steps to the old town of Kotor. By then, I have descended about a thousand meters. I collapse onto a terrace and order a beer. In the afternoon, I wander through the narrow, atmospheric streets. I visit the various churches and walk along the city walls. By late afternoon, I decide I’ve seen enough. I walk around the bay to my hotel in Muo—a few kilometers’ stroll. The hotel sits right on the bay with a view of Kotor. I decide not to go out again in the evening. I dine on the hotel terrace. From my table, I look out over the bay and Kotor. Slowly, the sun sets and the lights on the opposite shore come on. A magnificent sight.